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Mediterranean and North Africa · Vichy France vs Germany

Scuttling of the French fleet at Toulon

27 November 1942

When German troops moved to seize the Vichy fleet at Toulon in the aftermath of Torch, French crews scuttled their own ships rather than surrender them. Around 77 vessels, including three battleships and seven cruisers, were sunk or burned at their moorings, denying Germany and Italy the last major French fleet.

Explore Scuttling of the French fleet at Toulon on the interactive map · Wikipedia

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— Operation Lila

Germany occupied the rest of France on 11 November but left Toulon alone, hoping to take the fleet intact; at 04:00 on the 27th two battle groups drive on the arsenal from Ollioules and from the east, and a third makes for Saint-Mandrier to close the boom. A tank breaks the Castigneau gate at about 05:25 and Admiral de Laborde makes the general signal to scuttle. Charges are fired and sea-cocks opened along the quays and in the docks: three battleships, seven cruisers, fifteen destroyers and some seventy-seven vessels in all are on the bottom or burning by mid-morning, and only five submarines get out of the harbour.

The scuttled French fleet at Toulon: aerial pictures. On 28 November 1942, the day after the scuttling and firing of the ships of the French fleet in Toulon harbour, photographs were taken by the Royal Air Force. Many of
The scuttled French fleet at Toulon: aerial pictures. On 28 November 1942, the day after the scuttling and firing of the ships of the French fleet in Toulon harbour, photographs were taken by the Royal Air Force. Many ofRoyal Air Force · Public domain · source
Information added by Wikimedia users. Probably the cruiser Colbert
Information added by Wikimedia users. Probably the cruiser ColbertVennemann, Wolfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · source
Information added by Wikimedia users. Probably Marseillaise during the Scuttling of the French fleet in Toulon
Information added by Wikimedia users. Probably Marseillaise during the Scuttling of the French fleet in ToulonVennemann, Wolfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · source
The scuttled French fleet at Toulon: aerial pictures. On 28 November 1942, the day after the scuttling and firing of the ships of the French fleet in Toulon harbour, photographs were taken by the Royal Air Force. Many of
The scuttled French fleet at Toulon: aerial pictures. On 28 November 1942, the day after the scuttling and firing of the ships of the French fleet in Toulon harbour, photographs were taken by the Royal Air Force. Many ofRoyal Air Force · Public domain · source

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